The Possibility of Evil
By : Shirley Jackson
About the Author- Shirley Jackson
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Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916, and spent her childhood in nearby Burlingame, California. That was where she began writing poetry and short stories as a young teenager. She entered Syracuse University in 1937, where she published her first story, “Janice,” and was soon appointed fiction editor of the campus humor magazine. She was famous for writing "The Lottery," which became a popular television series. Her health was poor throughout her life; she suffered from extreme weight gain and was a heavy smoker. She died at the age of 49 from heart failure. At the time of her death, she was working on a novel entitled "Come Alone with Me."
Prereading Relection
Prereading Reflection:
How do you define "evil"?
Evil is being mean or unkind to someone or something. Evil could also be tricking someone into believing something that is a lie.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
A responsibility of you preventing from someone doing evil is just making sure that you know how to stop it. Or you could also tell some who would know what to do.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People enjoy saying bad things behind peoples back because they feel like everyone is noticing them not the person that they're talking about. It could also give them a sense of pride and even boost their confidence.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
The best way to respond to a person who is doing something bad is by telling an adult. Another way of responding is by letting other people, who are very close to you, be aware of the situation. It is better to have people to help, support, and defend you throughout the way.
How do you define "evil"?
Evil is being mean or unkind to someone or something. Evil could also be tricking someone into believing something that is a lie.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
A responsibility of you preventing from someone doing evil is just making sure that you know how to stop it. Or you could also tell some who would know what to do.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People enjoy saying bad things behind peoples back because they feel like everyone is noticing them not the person that they're talking about. It could also give them a sense of pride and even boost their confidence.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
The best way to respond to a person who is doing something bad is by telling an adult. Another way of responding is by letting other people, who are very close to you, be aware of the situation. It is better to have people to help, support, and defend you throughout the way.
Vocabulary
Define each term as it is used in the context of the story and include quotes
Infatuated: Think highly, arrogant. "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." (P.28)
Indulgently: Excessive. "Don and Helen Crane were really the two month infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." (P. 28)
Negotiable: Compromise. "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt wit the more negotiable stuff of suspicion." (P.32)
Degraded: Lower, Weaken, Worsen. "The town were she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded and needed to be watched; the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it." (P. 33)
Proverbial: Typical. "After her dishes were done and her kitchen was set in order, she took up her hat-Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." (P.34)
Unduly: Improperly, out of proportion. "She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly and longing to laugh at her; it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street." (P.35)
Potential: Possible, budding. "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service wiping out this potential." (P.36)
Infatuated: Think highly, arrogant. "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." (P.28)
Indulgently: Excessive. "Don and Helen Crane were really the two month infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." (P. 28)
Negotiable: Compromise. "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt wit the more negotiable stuff of suspicion." (P.32)
Degraded: Lower, Weaken, Worsen. "The town were she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded and needed to be watched; the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it." (P. 33)
Proverbial: Typical. "After her dishes were done and her kitchen was set in order, she took up her hat-Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." (P.34)
Unduly: Improperly, out of proportion. "She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly and longing to laugh at her; it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street." (P.35)
Potential: Possible, budding. "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service wiping out this potential." (P.36)
Contrasting Ideas
Miss Strangeworth seems EVIL Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she doesn't give her roses away or let anyone touch them
"Miss Strangeworth never gave away any of her roses, although the tourists often asked her. The roses belonged on Pleasant Street, and it bothered Miss Strangeworth to think of people wanting to carry them away, to take them into strange towns and down strange streets." (pg. 26) • Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she talks about Helen Crane's baby in a rude manner and says that Helen basically spoils her "I suppose you've got young Don all upset about the fact that his daughter is already six months old and hasn't yet begun to learn to dance?" "Well, apologize to her right now," Miss Strangeworth said. She is probably worrying about why you keep jumping around all the time." (pg. 29) • Miss Strangeworth wrote a rude letter "After thinking for a minute, although she had been phrasing the letter in the back of her mind all the way home, she wrote on a pink sheet: Didn't you ever see an idiot child before? Some people just shouldn't have children, should they?" (pg. 31) • She wrote another rude letter, this time to Mrs. Harper "After thinking for a minute, she decided that she would like to write another letter, perhaps to go to Mrs. Harper, to follow up the ones she had already mailed. She selected a green sheet this time and wrote quickly: Have you found out yet what they were all laughing about after you left the bridge club on Thursday? Or is the really always the last one to know?" (pg. 32) • Miss Strangeworth never put her name on the letters she wrote; she secretly writes the letters so that no one knows it's her and does not think anything bad of her "Although Miss Strangeworth had never given the matter any particular thought, she had always made a point of mailing her letters very secretly; it would, of course, not have been wise to let anyone see her mail them." (pg. 35) |
Miss Strangeworth DOES NOT SEEM EVILMiss Strangeworth does not seem evil when she greets people and asks about how their health is
"Walking down Main Street on a summer morning, Moss Strangeworth had to stop every minute or so to say good morning to someone or to ask after someone's health." (pg. 26) • She does not seem evil when she acts polite toward Mr. Lewis "Yes, thank you, Mr. Lewis. Such a lovely day, isn't it?" (pg. 27) • She seems polite when she smiles at the children greeting her "Miss Strangeworth smiled at them and quickly went on." |